Oh England!

...we are rather fed up with this dreary weather...a brolly, wellies and a mac were not in my vision of spending a summer with a new baby.

We want sunny afternoons under a different kind of brolly please!

I hope the weather is better with you, or that you are at least getting away to brighter and dryer lands soon...we have a week on the Sussex coast planned...keep your fingers crossed for us ;)

xxx

Black & White Thank You

Do you remember this bouquet?

Well this is it in all its glory.....

Don't they look gorgeous?

This is what she had to say...

"Thank you again for making my bouquet, it is amazing and I love it as much now as I did when I first opened the delivery box when you posted it to me. I am going to take very special care of it so that I can hopefully pass it down the generations."

Look at all that divine sparkle!

Fabulous

xxx

Is this our future?

I find myself unable to sleep....the news is just horrific. 3 night of 'riots' seeing children laughing at people smashing in businesses windows....throwing missiles at the police. 

One reporter stopped and ask a girl of no more than 13 why she was looting alcohol from a shop, her response? "cos its funny and there is nuffing else to do" and walks away laughing......shocked is nothing near how I feel when I see the adults of the future showing a complete disregard to any morals, and a total lack of respect for people property and their hard earned businesses.

These are their communities, their people, businesses which serve them.....what is the point? what is the reason? When you see mindless people destroying beautiful parts of London, you can help but ask....what have wronged these people so much, to make this type of destruction justified?

Families in there homes being under attack..... police, firemen, hospital staff all trying to help, calm and assist the victims. Turkish and south Asian communities creating their own police line to protect their areas.....sorry did someone say it is 2011?? 

But then a part of me thinks; when people have no jobs, no respect, no future, do they see this as a way to speak out to get some people to pay attention? 

When the government takes away their benefits which keep these people in food, because there is no work, and education is now coming at a huge cost....what do they have? 

A cry for help, albeit a disgusting one, but we as a nation have to listen to our disillusioned youth....these are our children....they are a direct reflection on our situation, the past neglect which is now our future.

I believe FAMILY is the key, I believe that we need to start from an early age to love our kids, to show them the way of a respectful, moral human being....the world doesn't owe us anything....you have to give something in order to benefit in the future. If we all brought up our kids with simple rules and discipline. Having to work hard for luxuries or pocket money maybe they would start to understand the cost of life, and that nothing should be offered on a plate. That it is far more beautiful when you have worked hard for something.

Mr Cameron you need to stop talking and start listening, realise that your actions and policies affect your people....that people cant survive on nothing.....they need jobs, education and something to be proud of....get you arse back from Tuscany and do your job properly man. We all want to help, we all want to be safe and happy.

You have the power, it's time to use it in the right way.

Images from here with thanks.

Go here for a wonderful blog post, who writes about the riots perfectly.

Smiles on a Sunny Saturday

Browsing the internet and I stumbled across one of my brides....do you remember her bouquet?

It brought such a huge smile to my face...I really do enjoy seeing my work as it is intended...with a bride on her wonderful day. I found these images via English wedding

It also helps that these photos are just amazing the blog post for their wedding is HERE

A happy surprise...and a stunning wedding day

Congratulations Jane & Chris

xxx

On the work bench today....

I have been working really hard to get together the new website and to stock the new online shop....

My Wonderful Dutchman has been applying his geek status to the exciting brand new & super Chic Vintage Magpie website...I am really pleased with the look so far.  

My poor fingers are now so sore I'm finding it hard to wire anything else! The Clarins hand cream has been out in full force, and it has been working miracles....

My work bench is choc-a-block with gorgeous Sparkling beauties, and I feel very proud of myself....never have I created so many pretty, glamorous and beautiful bouquets in such a short space of time. 

I cant wait, and I'm so excited to share them with you.

xxx

Last Bouquet of 2010

A Festive plum pudding of a bouquet for you!!

This colour is set to be popular next year....different tones of Plums and Heather....perfect for a January wedding!!




A Mothers wedding dress...her veil....and a trinket box of treasure helped to make this lovely bouquet....and 4 Bridesmaids bouquets as well..... I used every last bit of the fabric......

....Even the empire line lace trim was used on the binding of the handle....touching history....feeling the memories.....

...and all finished off with a locket....maybe for the next bride to fill with old family photos....the term Re-use, Re-cycle, Re-make is still this Vintage Magpie's motto.

Enjoy your Day Jane!! xxx

A Sneaky Peek

A matching cake topper for the gorgeous Sparkling Ivory Rose bouquet

I have just made 4 Sparkling Hand~Tied bouquets, for 4 beautiful Brides

I have 3 more patient Brides waiting for their little piece of Vintage Magpie heaven.

My studio looks like a tornado has wreaked havoc in it....my creative process can be a messy thing....one day I might be brave enough to post a photo of it!!

Happy Weekend!!

On the Work Bench...The Result

I love those soft flower bursts...so dreamy.....

I admit this wasn't the vision I had in my head...but I am so happy with how it has turned out!

Silhouettes are a favourite of mine, so it makes me smile to be able to incorporate them into my work...

This Vintage Magpie is happy...and from the look of the Bride and Groom they are happy with their flowery topper!! ;)

Did I mention the Cake?

Sometimes I think I talk about cake too much....maybe? just a little too much?

I have to say one of the most delightful things is to have tea and cake... cup cakes, fruit cake, biscuits, flapjacks, brownies....do you catch my drift?....I love it!

As I start looking for more and more cake inspiration for the wedding...I wonder...do all these gorgeous looking cakes taste as good as they look? Or is the beauty on the outside the only thing that is important?



Even though I love all the cakes above, this one below is my favorite....simple, homemade, a sweet fairy cake...or now better known as a cupcake....it makes me smile....

I adore everything about it.... the fact it is sitting on an upturned wineglass is total genius....guests would gasp and wonder when to eat it!!

The sparkler and the little ribbon bow are. simply...sweet!

Top image via Martha Stewart...other 2 images via Image Spark....with thanks x

A Spring Shower.....

I have been making a lot of new bouquets for The London Vintage Wedding Fair on the 11th April...my little fingers are not in a good way...but it is well worth all the effort...

Just like Spring, this ivory shower bouquet is fresh and beautiful.

She is lovingly made with raw silk roses...sparkling vintage crystals and the cutest vintage millinery flowers. These are sooooo difficult to find I decided to uses every last one is this bouquet...they are also in that super cute vintage map cake topper.

The mother of pearl buttons are so milky and give that signature Vintage Magpie look...

Oh and that lovely drop is made with a freshwater pearl and T.H.E most twinkly diamante button...yes... a button!! Now that gets me thinking...what kind of amazing outfit they came off of.... but I bet the lucky lady looked a millions pounds in it!

Etsy 2010

I have spent today updating my Etsy shop....I think my eyes are square after a day on the computer!

I have been for a while wanting to update my website, put in a online shop, smarten her up and put on better photos..... Then a certain Wonderful Dutchman proposed to me and all our available cash is going on our wedding.... We are sticking to our budget, but I can now completely understand how people end up spending thousands upon thousands of pounds to achieve the 'Perfect' day.

I understand how lucky I am to be creative, as I am cutting out a lot of spending by making a lot myself....and boy I am having so much fun in the process!!

So after a few months wondering what to do I have decided to stock up etsy.

If you have never been on Etsy you must have a look...it is great for ideas, and has wonderful cost effective ways of making your wedding/life/workspace/dollhouse/tree house/summerhouse/home beautiful!!

It is a world of small designers like myself, putting our work out there into the world and hoping that someone adores it enough to buy it!

I understand that some people might be put off by the fact it is all in US dollars, but this is so easy to convert. I use XE a website that will convert any money for you, so you know how much an item is!! I use it all day long, and it is always very near to the PayPal exchange rate.

If any of you are confused, or would like to buy something but are unsure about PayPal/Etsy etc...please feel free to email me here....the button is on the right hand side!

Etsy is addictive....so I warn you now!!

A night at the Theatre

The Wonderful Dutchman and I went to see War Horse on Saturday at The New London Theatre....

It was the first time we have been to the theatre together!! An experience I hope to regularly repeat.

War Horse was stunning. My mind worked overtime taking all the amazing horses in. They are handspring puppets...life size horses, handled by 3 breathtaking men and women; Head, Heart and Hind!

Originally a book by Michael Morpurgo, about the forgotten horses in WW1.

The production was beautiful...the work that must have gone into researching the movements of the animals, even down to the tails swishing, and the ear twitching. And then to make puppets that possess all these qualities....stunning, wonderful, and very moving.

....The goose was hilarious!!

If you get the chance to see it, I couldn't recommend it enough!

....

I yet again have a stinking cold, so I have been searching the web for something to lift my spirits...

...this is who I found....Kirsty Mitchell from Fractured Thoughts....

Ohhhhh I am in love with her images....

This image is my Favorite.... I want to smell the scent of that Lavender field..... I want spring to hurry up!!

All images Kirsty Mitchell, With Thanks

What made you smile today?

Oh Sweet Valentine's

This is what is on my work table today.....

I am getting ready for the Valentine's Market....tiny Valentine cards...Be Mine xxx

Etsy Parcels...

I'm a very happy girl. Vintage Magpie has had its first sale on Etsy!!

I sold my super cute Vintage heart treasure map bunting.... and my sea~shore vintage map bunting....YAY!!

They are flying over the big ocean to look gorgeous in California!! Lucky them!

P.S there will be more of this bunting on Etsy very soon.